The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-29
RAISING GERMAN CARP.
Directions Condensed from . Circular Is
rued By the Fish Com sllisxions

Directions Condensed from . Circular Is
sued by the Fish Conisnissions
German carp were first introduced
into the United States about 1877, and
large carp ponds for their culture We're
built in Washington. The United
States Fish Commission superintend the
process of raising the fish and sending
out the fish and eggs to those persons
who wish to engage in fish culture. Be
tween 1879 and 1888 over $4,000 ponds
were stocked in various parts of the
country with this fish, and probably
as many more have been supplied since
1898. Shipments have also been made
10 Central and South America Though
not of as delicate flavor as some other
fish, carp are regarded as excellent fish
for food. and are especially valuable be-
cause they grow very rapidly. can be
easily cared for and are cheaply fed,
and are very prolific. Carp prefer
stagnant or sluggish waters, with
loamy muddy bottom and deep places
Astounding in vegetation. They live
upon vegetable food, worms and insect
Larvae, and indeed will eat almost any
thing offered to them. They hibernate
in temperate climates from October to
April. During this time they do not
care for food. As soon as the spawning
season begins, which is when the warm
weather has set in, the fish should be
regularly and abundantly fed. The
fish will continue to spawn for two
months or longer, and the deposit OF
eggs averages about 100000 for each
pound of the weight of the fish. The
eggs hatch very quickly If the water
is warm. In temperature of ninety
degrees they hatch in forty-eight hours
after being spawned. The rate OF
growth by the young carp depends
upon the average temperature of the
water, the nature of the bottom of the
pond, the amount of food and the ex-
tent of water area The average weight
of throe-year-old carpis three pounds,
though this may be greatly increased
by favorable conditions.
In making pond for the culture OF
carp tae first essential is to provide for
a good supply of water at all seasons.
The bottom of the pond should consist
of clayey loan intermingled with mari
or vegetable loan. The depth of the
pond need not exceed three feet in the
center, and for some seventy feet from
the shore, all around, it should not ex-
coed one foot. The area intended for
breeding must be even shallower than
this. Near the center of the pond there
should be a deep cavity, fully two feet
below the level of the bottom Of the
pond and varying in size according to
the number of fish in the pond. This
is to serve as retreat for the fish from
excessive heat and cold. The pond must
be so made that it can be perfectly
drained and near the outlet there must
| be another excavation in the bottom
about foot deeper than the rest OF the
| pond to receive the fish when the water
is drawn off through the outlet pipe,
and this cavity should have a plank
flooring and be kept free from mud
A main ditch through the pond should
lead into the outlet pipe, with inter
secting bitches leading into it from al
parts of the pond. The inlet pipe, tt
let water into the pond. should CONT
from the side, and both inlet and out
let pipes should be provided with
series of screens to prevent the escape
of the carp and the intrusion of othel
fishes, not to speak of water animals
| offers, muskrats, minks, water snakes
etc, that prey upon the carp. So i'm
portant is it to keep away these enc
mics that all knobs and islands shoult
be removed from the pond, as thes
serve as lodging-places for all sorts o
dangerous creatures. The snappin,
turtle is one of the worst, and an ex
perienced fish culturist says that tn
only way to keep this pest out is to sur
round the ponds with tight boar
fences, three to four feet high, and i'm
bedded in the ground from four to 81;
inches. Outside foes must be killed b
shooting and trapping, and those tina
get into the pond must be reached b
draining the water off at intervals.
| In stocking hatching-pond six ft
males and four males should be Above
to each acre of water. Regular carr
culture requires three ponds-a hatcf
ing pond. breeding pond and Gull
ure pond. The hatching-pond nee
not be as large as the breeding-pont
and its depth should not be create
than eighteen inches. Water, gras
and aquatic plants should grow in
plentiful,y, for the eggs of the fish
adhere to. At the close of the spawn
ing season the breeding fishes shoul
be removed. The young fry that hate
should be allowed to remain there
year, and then be transferred to tt
breeding-pond. This pond should b
larger and somewhat deeper than tt
Matching pond, it should have goo
, growth of grass and a number OF dee
holes for the fish to retire to whe
alarmed. When the young fish al
transferred to this pond, about Marc
or April, 300 carp may be allowed
the acre. After remaining one year
the breeding-pond the fish should
transferred to the culture-pond, 400
!, 500 being here allowed to the acre.
feeding the carp distribute the food
!, different places near the banks ar
! change the feeding-place frequentl
Do not give them much food at OF
:. time. The best times to put in fot
are early in the morning or at nigh
: Never put into the pond more food thu
the fish will consume, as what is lie
i will purify and cause sickness amor
. the fish.-C Chicago Inter Ocean.
BEDDING FOR STOCK.
Straw the Most Satisfactory Absorbel
II that Can be Employed.
All kinds Of farm stock need beddir